Ball throwing machine



Feb. 23, 1960 J. E. cooK 2,925,811

' BALL THROWING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1958 l lze- -T FIG.3 MENTOR.

". I JAY E.COOK

' d S ates This invention relates generally to ball throwing devices,and more particularly to a machine for use in play practice or exercise;or wherever it is desired to automatically project a ball in an upwarddirection or at an angle from the vertical.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple mechanism forcatching up and propelling a ball which has been fed to it.

A further object of this invention is to simulate as nearly as possiblethe grip and swing used in manually tossing a ball.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ball throwingapparatus having a minimum of moving parts.

And yet another object of this invention is the provision of a machinefor throwing a ball in an unpredictable or random manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball thrower mechanismof relatively small dimensions.

And even another object of this invention is to provide a ball throwermechanism which can handle such light and fragile articles as ping-pongballs without danger of crushing same.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood Fig. 1 is a perspective view of aball thrower mechanism or machine incorporating the features of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section of the machine taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section view of the machine taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 4 is a section of the machine taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the ball throwing deviceor machine is designated generally by reference numeral 100, and itconsists of a hoppershaped enclosure consisting of a tapered housing 102and side members 104 and 106 fastened thereto.

The housing 102, as best seen in Fig. 4, is cut away internally into aU-shape. The taper is made equal on both sides of the housing 102 and ismost constricted at the bottom of the U. A revolving assembly 118 isplaced co-axially within the U.

This assembly 118 is built up of three wooden annular disks 120, 122,and 124 interleaved by two larger annular rubber disks 126 and 123 whichproject fin-like beyond the diameter of the Wood disks 120, 122 and 124.These fins 126 and 128 extend a few degrees more or less than one-halfof the circumference of the disks with the rest being cut away. It is tobe noted, that fins 126 and 128 can be arranged so that they do notoverlap and end short of each other or extend slightly past each other.Also, more than two fins 126 and 128 can be utilized. The fins 126 and128 are arranged at two places around the circumference by displacingthe disks 180 degrees with respect to each other and holding thisrelationship with machine screws 134 and nuts 136 placed at suitableintervals around the assembly 118.

A cup member is fastened inside the disks 120, 122 and 124 by means ofscrews 140. A hub 144, provided with set screw 146, mounts the entirerotating assembly 118 on the shaft of an electric motor 132. The motor132, in turn, is secured to the side plate 104 by means of a motor mount114, a plate 138 and screws 152. Ventilating holes 154, for cooling themotor 132 may be provided in the end plate as shown. An electric cord148 and attachment plug provide connections to a suitable source ofelectricity.

An end cap 149, with a recessed opening 142, may be used to allow accessto the hole of the rotating assembly 118, if desired.

A pair of wedge-shaped guides 108 and 110 are fastened inside thehopper-like housing 102. These guides 108 and 110 are provided with amatching taper thereto so as to form an essentially parallel-sidedchannel between them somewhat Wider than the ball 127 to be propelled.The radius of the U in the housing 102 and that of the wood disks 120,1'22, and 124, making up the rotating assembly 118, must also beproportioned so that the ball 127 will be able to pass thereunder.

The ball 127 is dropped or placed between the guides 108 and 110, and itdrops downwardly as shown by the vertical arrow of Fig. 4. The ball 127comes in contact with the inside of either finned disk 126 or 128. Thisgives the ball 127 a gradually accelerated forward motion in thedirection of rotation of the assembly 118. The leading end of theopposing fin, either 128 or 126, catches up with the ball 127 in a fewdegrees of rotation and deflects it to the side.

The ball 127 is projected in an upward direction by either fin 126 or128 as shown by the second vertical arrow. Inasmuch as the walls of thehousing 102 diverge toward this outlet, the element of chance enters tocause the ball 127 to be ejected at various angles from'the vertical.The governing factors for the direction of the ball 127, can be seen tobe the degree of pinch exerted by the'leading and lagging fins 126 and128 and whether the ball 127 has been caught up near one or the otherfin end.

It is obvious that many modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in the light of the'above teachings. It istherefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claimsthe invention may be practiced otherwise as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A ball throwing apparatus, comprising, structure defining a housingopen at its upper face, and tapered inwardly from its upper face to itsclosed lower face, said housing having a substantially U-shape recessextending from said upper face to adjacent said closed lower facethereof, a pair of spaced guide members located in said U-shape recessof said housing at one end thereof and extending substantially half-wayaround said U-shape recess toward the lower face of said housing forguiding a ball, a Wheel mounted for rotation in said U-shape recess ofsaid housing with its axis of rotation being located parallel to theupper and lower faces of said housing, and means including a fin mountedon said wheel and spaced from the wall of said U-shape recess of saidhousing and said spaced guide members for propelling a ball guided bysaid guide members into engagement with said fin and around the wall ofsaid U-shape recess and upwardly through the open end of said housing,with the movement of said ball in the interior of said housing followinga U-shape path.

2. A ball throwing apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein at least two spaced fins are mounted on said 5. A ball throwingapparatus as recited in claim 3, wheel for propelling said ball throughthe open upper wherein said means for rotating said wheel consists of aface of said housing. motor.

3. A ball throwing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein each saidfin extends substantially halfway 5' around the periphery of said wheel,and means for rotating said Wheel so that said fins will propel saidball References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSthrough said open upper face of said housing. 1,680,077 Allender Aug. 7,1928 4. A ball throwing apparatus as recited in claim 3, 2,705,945Cavalier Apr. 2, 9 wherein said fins are disposed 180 from each otheraxially 10 2,765,171 COOK 2, 1956 and in a spaced relationship at twodiametrically opposed 2,793,636 Cook May 28, 1957 points.

